Where Are Chicago Airbnb Guests Actually Coming From? The Data Might Surprise You.
Hello, fellow Airbnb enthusiasts!
So, here’s what I discovered
When you think of Chicago Airbnb guests, you might picture tourists flying in from all over. But when I dug into Google Trends data, I realized something surprising:
Most searches for “Airbnb Chicago” on Google come from right here in Chicago and the greater Illinois area.
Where are Google searches for “Airbnb Chicago” coming from?
When I dug a little deeper into the Google Trends metro breakdown, here’s what I found:
Top 5 Metros Searching for “Airbnb Chicago”
Chicago metro
Lafayette, Indiana
Rockford, IL
Champaign & Springfield-Decatur, IL
Peoria-Bloomington, IL
“Airbnb Chicago” search volume for the United States from the last 5 years broken down by metro. Screenshot from Google Trends.
Interesting pattern: college towns
Two of these metros — Champaign, IL and Lafayette, IN — are college towns. Champaign is home to the University of Illinois, and Lafayette is home to Purdue University. This suggests you’ve got a steady stream of searches coming from students, visiting families, alumni, or event attendees in those areas.
So it’s not just out-of-towners — it’s your neighbors, your fellow Illinoisans, and Midwesterners nearby.
Are the Google searches from prospective guests or other hosts?
Good question — and one I wanted to validate.
How do we know it’s guests searching, not other hosts?
Well, the related queries on Google Trends tell the story:
Top related searches:
“airbnb in chicago”
“hotels chicago”
“hotels”
“chicago hotel”
“hotel”
Notice what’s missing?
No searches like “how to start an Airbnb” or “Chicago Airbnb regulations”. It’s clear these are prospective guests looking for places to stay, not aspiring hosts researching the business.
Why this matters for you
Knowing that so many of your potential guests are local (or regional) changes how you market your property:
✅ Highlight staycation-friendly amenities in your listing. Think cozy patios, Netflix, stocked kitchens, and spaces perfect for a night in.
✅ Offer last-minute weekend rates or discounts — these nearby guests don’t need months to plan.
✅ Mention your proximity to local spots Chicagoans love. They already know Navy Pier, so give them Logan Square patios, Wicker Park bakeries, or Pilsen galleries.
✅ Consider marketing to visiting families of students at UIUC and Purdue — especially for graduation weekends and football games.
The takeaway
The data says your guests are closer than you think.
And the smarter you market to them, the better your bookings.
Thanks for reading — here’s to smarter, data-backed hosting!
– Hermioni from Airsmart